Ulster County SPCA hires Stacey Price as new executive director

TOWN OF ULSTER, N.Y. -- A Washington state woman with a corporate background and three years as the animal welfare director at a no-kill facility has been hired as the new executive director of the Ulster County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Price, originally from Herkimer County, west of Albany, said on Wednesday that she moved to Washington state because her fiance had a job opportunity there. They since have moved back to New York and currently live in Corinth, in Saratoga County, she said. Price said they plan to move to Ulster County as soon as possible.

The couple has two dogs, Lucie and Zen, and three cats, Tannis, Whitespier and Gaffney, Price said. All five are rescued animals, she said.

Advertisement

When the couple moved back to New York for her fiance's job, Price planned to volunteer and stay involved in animal welfare efforts, but then the Ulster County SPCA opportunity arose, as did two other jobs.

"I think what really stood out (about the Ulster County job) was the amount of compassion the staff had," Price said.

Price said she will seek input when she comes on board from the SPCA's staff, volunteers and Board of Directors, as well as the community, to get an idea of where to lead the town of Ulster-based agency. Price said she knows the staff wants to do more work on animal behavioral programs; wants to address the root causes of animal cruelty, pet overpopulation and pet surrenders; and wants to focus on the bond between animals and humans.

Price left a corporate career four years ago after amassing 10 years of experience in business development, finance and marketing, according to a press release from the Ulster County SPCA. She then served for three years as the animal welfare director of a shelter in Washington state and oversaw its transition to a no-kill policy.

When Price started at the Kitsap Humane Society in Washington state, it had an annual euthanization rate of 20 to 30 percent, Price said. She said she got that down below 6 percent in her first four months there.

Price has a bachelor's degree in marketing from SUNY Plattsburgh and a master of business administration degree from Clarkson University, according to the SPCA press release. She has also more than 500 hours of continuing-education credits in animal welfare, including shelter management, behavior, fostering, advocacy and animal health.

Price said the Ulster County SPCA has a wonderful foundation and that she wants to build on it.